Road Ride to Bear Mtn.

A snowy late winter means many weeks off the mountain bike. After three consecutive weeks of x-c skiing (Minnewaska, Fahnestock and High Point), beautiful weather yesterday meant a perfect day for the road bike. While I missed a 9:30am start of a group ride due to work issues, I headed out on my own intending just to ride up from the city, to Nyack and back. But I felt strong and headed further north and rode up Bradley/Tweed, Hook Mtn, South Mtn, and Gate Hill into Harriman park. The highlands of Harriman remained buried under deep snowpack, and the clear blue sky meant a spectacular ride through the park. I didn't expect Perkins Drive to be open to bikes, but when it was, I took the opportunity to climb the peak. On top, I met a friendly group who recently relocated to NYC from Britain, that had just hiked up the on trails. (They offered food bars, which I gladly accepted). An fun descent down to the Bear Mtn Bridge to the Garrison station for the train ride home, capped a very satisfying day.